the borough to give colour to such warnings [see page 145. Now, had such an association existed as they were about to form, such reports would at once have been refuted. He would call on Mr. Dawson to read a prospectus which had been prepared. R. Dawson, Esq. said, before he did that he would make a few remarks. Their sole object was to improve the borough and benefit the inhabitants; and in order to embrace all parties, politics would be discarded and religious questions not meddled with. Hastings was not a manufacturing town; it had no tall chimneys and deep mines, but simply depended upon a good supply of visitors for her prosperity. The many houses and apartments to let showed anything but prosperity. In altering this depression a change in the railway arrangements was of the utmost importance. To get this might be an up-hill game, but they must bestir themselves for the purpose. Then, they wanted evening concerts by talented musicians. It would be the aim of the association to watch over the interest of the entire borough, and to co-operate with the Town Council in its efforts to improve the borough – to see to the water supply and an efficient drainage. Mr. Dawson then read the prospectus. In a memorial to the railway companies which he had seen, Hastings was described as superior to all other places except Brighton. Why such exception? Had Brighton such a promenade as Hastings and St. Leonards, or such beach and sands? And what was the surrounding scenery of Brighton compared with that of these towns? He considered Hastings far superior to Brighton, and that the only thing wanted was for the townspeople to go hand in hand, and for the two towns to sink all minor differences and petty jealousies which were prejudicial to both. Then prosperity to the borough at large would follow. Mr. J. E. Butler, in moving a resolution, said they were, doubtless, suffering from a depressed season, and whatever might be the cause of it that cause was aggravated by those obstacles which the proposed association sought to remove. Among other St. Leonards persons who spoke was Mr. Putland, who regretted that gentlemen in Hastings had scarcely a share in the local railways. Plenty of money was invested in foreign railways, whilst no persons lent a hand in the Hastings lines. The resolution was carried unanimously.
The same gentlemen carried their views to Hastings, and as a provisional committee, convened a meeting at the Swan Hotel, where, however, the proposal was not taken up with the same warmth by those who were in attendance. Mr. R. Dawson took the chair, and Mr. Butler, of the Eversfield Library, in moving a resolution, remarked that no towns on the coast could rival Hastings and St. Leonards in natural scenery and salubrity of climate; yet, during the last two or three seasons there had been a great deficiency of visitors. This, he believed, was due to a want of accommodation on the part of the railways; also to the lack of amusements. There was a want of a good music hall for nightly entertainments; also more cordiality instead of the still existing jealousy -
